Isaiah Messiah Prophecies – Any Exceptions?

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Isaiah is the greatest of all the prophets, according to the Jewish Encyclopedia, and regarded by many Rabbi sages as second in importance only to Moses.^[1] Prophecies of Isaiah foretell of the Messiah throughout his writing 300 years after the reign of King David, about 700 years before Jesus of Nazareth appeared on the scene.

Many of Isaiah’s prophecies are referenced in the Babylonian Talmud reinforcing their significance.^[2] In tractate Sanhedrin 98 alone, six Rabbis make 11 references to Isaiah’s Messiah prophecies.^[3]

Dead Sea Scrolls discoveries in 1947 yielded one of the most treasured finds, the Great Isaiah Scroll. Dated to about 125 BC, it is the oldest known, nearly complete Hebrew text of the Book of Isaiah.^[4]

In Jerusalem, the scroll is secured in the Israel Museum. It is 1000 years older than the Masoretic texts which primarily serve as the source for today’s Jewish Bible, the Tenakh.^[5]

Translating ancient Hebrew text has its challenges. Consisting of an alphabet with only 22 letters, all consonants, are used to form a root word which often times can either be a noun or a verb.

Translators must then rely on the broader context to fill in the vowels, tenses and other words to form a complete sentence in English.^[6] Subjective translations obviously opens the door to variation.

In turn, variations in translations can impact interpretations of a prophecy’s meanings.^[7] No surprise, Judaism interpretations are not always in agreement with Christianity, some differences are less clear than others.^[8]

Jonathan Targum (targum means “translation”) is known as the “Official Targum to the Prophets” an Aramaic translation of the Tenakh with roots going back to about 200 BC.^[9] According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, it was written “more freely, in harmony with the text of the prophetic books.”^[10]

Scrolls were not broken down into chapter and verse when they were written. A section of verses on a specific topic are known as a parashah or pericope, such as Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 about “My Servant.”

Opening the Isaiah 52-53 parashah, Jonathan Targum reads, “Behold my servant Messiah shall prosper…” Towards the end of the parashah it reads, “…so as to cleanse their souls from sin: these shall look on the kingdom of their Messiah…”^[11]

Most Christians believe Isaiah’s 52-53 parashah depicting of the life, torment, death and satisfaction in life-after-death of My Servant is a prophecy about the Messiah fulfilled by the trial, crucifixion, burial and Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Judaism generally regards the parashah as a metaphor of a man, the nation of Israel and the house of Jacob ; however, not all Jewish authorities agree – Rabbi Rashi commented it refers to the biblical strongman, Sampson.^[12]

Hours before his arrest, during his final Passover meal with his Disciples, Jesus pointed out a prophecy written about himself that was soon to be fulfilled. Quoting from the parashah, Isaiah 53:12, he said:

^{LK 22:37} “It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.””_(NIV)

Preeminent Jewish Scriptures authority Rabbi Maimonides once asked a0 question, “What is to be the manner of Messiah’s advent, and where will be the place of his first appearance?” Answering his own question, the Rabbi quoted two prophecies from the parashah; Isaiah 53:2, regarding the Messiah’s unheralded arrival, and Isaiah 52:15, explaining how kings would be “confounded at the wonders” the Messiah would perform.^[13]

Most controversial is the prophecy Isaiah 7:14 viewed by Christianity as being fulfilled by the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Masoretic text translates`almah as meaning “young woman” while nearly all Christian Bibles translate `almah as “virgin.”^[14] Making the controversy more provocative are some Christian Bible versions inconsistently translating Isaiah 7:14 as “young woman,” then translating it differently in Matthew as “virgin.”^[15]

Jesus of Nazareth caused a stir, according to Luke, when he read from Isaiah to begin his ministry. Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1-2:^[16]

^{IS 61:1-2} “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn…”_(NKJV)

Jesus had identified Isaiah’s prophecies as the basis for people to see that he is the fulfillment of those prophecies. Later, Jesus said the prophesies written by the prophets about the himself had to be fulfilled.^[17]

Can some of the prophesies found in the Book of Isaiah be discarded or are they all to be regarded as pr0phecies about the Messiah?

Updated November 23, 2025

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:
[1] “Isaiah.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/8235-isaiah>
[2] Jones, Dennis A. “Jewish Messianic Texts.” The Emmanuel Church of the Web. n.d. <http://fecotw.tripod.com/id88.html> The Babylonian Talmud. Trans. Michael L. Rodkinson. 1918. http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/talmud.htm#t08> Soncino Babylonian Talmud. Ed. Rabbi Isidore Epstein. 1935 – 1948. <https://israelect.com/Come-and-Hear/tcontents.html>
[3] Soncino Babylonian Talmud. Sanhedrin 98a & b footnotes: Isaiah XLIX:7, XXIX:21 I:25, LIX:19, LIX:20, LX:21, LIX:16, XLVIII:11, LX:22; LIII.4. Also 38a, footnote #9 to Isaiah 8:14. <https://israelect.com/Come-and-Hear/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_98.html>
[4] “The Great Isaiah Scroll.” 2018. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. <http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/isaiah> Miller. Library of Congress (United States). n.d. “Scrolls From the Dead Sea.” <https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/scrolls/late.html> Israel Antiquities Authority. 2012. “The Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library.” <https://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/explore-the-archive/search#q=’Isaiah‘> Fred P. The Great Isaiah Scroll. 1998. “Qumran Great Isaiah Scroll.” <http://www.moellerhaus.com/qumdir.htm> Abegg, Jr., Martin G., Flint, Peter W. and Ulrich Eugene Charles. The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible: the oldest known Bible translated for the first time into English. 2002. p 281. <http://books.google.com/books?id=c4R9c7wAurQC&lpg=PP1&ots=fQpCpzCdb5&dq=Abegg%2C%20Flint%20and%20Ulrich%2C%20The%20Dead%20Dead%20Sea%20Scrolls%20Bible%2C&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=Isaiah&f=false> “Dead Sea Scrolls.” Archaeology. 2018. <http://www.allaboutarchaeology.org/dead-sea-scrolls.htm> “The Dead Sea Scrolls.” National Endowment For The Humanities. image. 2015. <https://essentials.neh.gov/sites/default/files/DeadSeaScroll_v1.jpg>
[5] Benner, Jeff A. “The Great Isaiah Scroll and the Masoretic Text.” Ancient Hebrew Research Center. 2017. <http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/bible_isaiahscroll.html> “Masoretic Text.” Encyclopædia Britannica. n.d. <https://www.britannica.com/topic/Masoretic-text> “Jewish Concepts: Masoretic Text.” Jewish Virtual Library. 2018. <https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Masoretic.html> “Masoretic Text.” Textus-Receptus.Com. 2016. <http://textus-receptus.com/wiki/Masoretic_Text> “Masoretic Text.” New World Encyclopedia. 2014. <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Masoretic_Text> Zew, Moshe. “The Numeric System of the Bible.” 27 Dec. 2013. WorldWide Witness by Moshe Zew. <http://www.kolumbus.fi/gematria/numeric.htm>
[6] “The Hebrew Language.” MyJewishLearning.com. n.d. <http://www.myjewishlearning.com/culture/2/Languages/Hebrew.shtml>
“History of the Hebrew Language.” B’NAI ZAQEN. 2005. <http://www.zaqen.info/hislangu.htm> Benner, Jeff A. “Introduction to the Ancient Hebrew Vocabulary.” Ancient Hebrew Research Center. 2013. <https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/introduction.htm> Benner, Jeff A. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible.” Ancient Hebrew Research Center. 2017. <https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/introduction.htm>
[7] Benner. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible.”
[8] Neubauer and Driver. The Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah According to the Jewish Interpreters. “Introduction.” pp. xxix- lxv. <https://books.google.com/books?id=YxdbAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP1&hl=en#v=onepage&q=introduction&f=false> Sullivan, Charles A. “A History of Chapters and Verses in the Hebrew Bible.” 2012. <http://charlesasullivan.com/2693/a-history-of-chapters-and-verses-in-the-hebrew-bible>
[9] Neubauer, Adolf. And Driver, Samuel Rolles. The Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah According to the Jewish Interpreters. 1877. “Thargum of Yonathan (Jonathan Targum)” pp. 5-7. <https://books.google.com/books?id=YxdbAA
[10] “Targum.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. AAQAAJ&pg=PP1&hl=en#v=onepage&q=Thargum&f=false >
[11] Neubauer. The Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah According to the Jewish Interpreters. “Thargum of Yonathan.” pp. 5-7.
[12] The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary. Isaiah 53:3. Rashi commentary. Soncino Babylonian Talmud. n.d. Sotah 14a. <https://israelect.com/Come-and-Hear/sotah/sotah_14.html#14a_1> Crispin, Moshe Kohen ibn. “Sefer ha-Musar.” Neubauer, Driver & Rolles. The Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah According to the Jewish Interpreters. pp. 99-101. <http://books.google.com/books?id=YxdbAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=advent&f=false> The Compete Jewish Bible- with Rashi Commentary. Isaiah 7:14. CR Judges Chapter 13.
[13] Mangel, Nissen. “Responsa.” Chabad.org. 2018. <http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/107783/jewish/Responsa.htm> Maimonides, “Letter to the South (Yemen)”. p 374. Neubauer and Driver. The Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah According to the Jewish Interpreters.
[14] Isaiah 7:14. The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary. Isaiah 7:14. Jewish Publication Society Bible. <http://www.breslov.com/bible/Isaiah7.htm#14 > “Mishneh Torah, Virgin Maiden 1. “Sefaria.org. n.d. <https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Virgin_Maiden.1.5?lang=bi>> Mishneh Torah, Forbidden Intercourse 17.” Sefaria.org. Footnotes #48 & 49. n.d. <https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Forbidden_Intercourse.17.13?lang=bi&with=Navigation&lang2=en>
[15] Good News Translation; Net Bible Translation.
[16] Luke 4:16-21; Isaiah 61:1-2a.
[17] Luke 24:44-48.

Death Wound of the Messiah

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Death Wound of the Messiah

Zechariah authored his prophetic book about the same time Zerubbabel led the Jews from Persia back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the Temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Setting the historical familial context, Zerubbabel, was the grandson of Jeconiah, the last sitting king in the House of David,

Recognized as a prophecy by both Jewish and Christian authorities alike is Zechariah 12:10 – with a few twists. Within each of their own Jewish ranks are differing views about the meaning of the verse.

An interesting debate that had taken place about the meaning of the verse among the Rabbis hundreds of years earlier. Initially, the rabbinic discussion focused on the topic of lust – whether men and women should be separated during worship and mourning services.

Rabbi R. Judah expressed through a question asking if the verse meant the Holy One would slay the Evil Inclination in the presence of both the righteous and the wicked during the Messianic age. The Rabbi’s question changed the discussion:

Sukkah 52a:

“What is the cause of the mourning?

“R. Dosa and the Rabbis differ on the point. One explained, The cause is the slaying of Messiah the son of Joseph, and the other explained, The cause is the slaying of the Evil Inclination. “It is well according to him who explains that the cause is the slaying of Messiah the son of Joseph, since that well agrees with the Scriptural verse, And they shall look upon me because they have thrust him through, and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son; “but according to him who explains the cause to be the slaying of the Evil Inclination, is this [it may be objected] an occasion for mourning? Is it not rather an occasion for rejoicing? Why then should they weep?^[1]

With that question, the dialog switched direction generating a debate around the prophetic nature of Zechariah 12:10 itself.^[2] Jewish sages since then have generally concurred that Zechariah 12:10 refers to the Messiah.

Rabbi Rash, not fully committed, commented in The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary:^[3]

“…as one mourns over an only son: As a man mourns over his only son. And our Sages expounded this in tractate Sukkah (52a) as referring to the Messiah, son of Joseph, who was slain.” – Rabbi Rashi^[4]

Christian and Hebrew translations pose the biggest controversy centering around one Hebrew word, daqar. Translation of the word as either “pierced” or “thrust him through” is the issue.

Zech. 12:10 “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto Me because they have thrust him through; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.” – Jewish Publication Society

^{Zech. 12:10} “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” – New King James Version

Jewish Bibles commonly read the Messiah will be “thrust through,” while most Christian Bibles typically translate daqar as pierced, such as by nails.^[5] Neither of the interpretations are manifestly consistent with historical scriptural usage of the word.

Good News Translation and God’s Word Translation interprets daqar as “stabbed.” The Message and Contemporary English Version each translate the prophecy as piercing with a spear. Another takes the middle road with Bible in Basic English saying “wounded by their hands.”^[6]

Regardless if the Hebrew word is translated as “pierced” or “thrust through,” none of the interpretations clearly solves the dilemma of the manner of how the wound was to be inflicted – by nails or by a weapon? The answer may be found through scriptural language analysis.^[7]

Nine other times the Hebrew word daqar appears in the texts of the Old Testament/Tanakh including another appearance of the word in Zechariah.^[8] In all instances, daqar is used in the context of wounds inflicted by a type of weapon, such as a sword or spear.

Applying this word usage definition of daqar to Zechariah 12:10, the wound was inflicted by means of a type of weapon. John’s Gospel account of the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth describes how he was both pierced by nails and had a spear thrust into his side when he was crucified.^[9]

Later, John described the resurrected Jesus who suddenly appeared in a locked room where he invited the doubting Disciple Thomas to touch the healed wounds in his hands, feet and in his side. Taking the offer, the doubtful Thomas exclaimed in an excited utterance , “My Lord and my God!”^[10]

Were the Gospel accounts of the Jerusalem crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth a fulfillment of the Zachariah 12:10 prophecy when the slain Messiah was deeply wounded by means of daqar?

Updated January 20, 2026.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] Sukkah 52a, p 75. <http://www.halakhah.com/rst/moed/16b%20-%20Succah%20-%2029b-56b.pdf>
[2] Sukkah 52a. Halakhah.com. Trans. Soncino Babylonian Talmud. n.d. pp 74-77, footnote #1-3. <http://www.halakhah.com/rst/moed/16b%20-%20Succah%20-%2029b-56b.pdf>
[3] “Rashi (Solomon Bar Isaac).” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13862-solomon-b-isaac-rashi>
[4] The Complete Jewish Bible – with Rashi Commentary. Zechariah 12:10. <https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16216#showrashi=true>
[5] “daqar.” Lexicon-Concordance Online Bible. n.d. <http://lexiconcordance.com/hebrew/1856.html> Benner, Jeff A. Ancient Hebrew Research Center. “Zechariah 12:10 | “Pierced him” or “Pierced me?”” 2022. <https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/studies-verses/zechariah-12-10-pierced-him-or-pierced-me.htm> Benner, Jeff A. Ancient Hebrew Research Center. Zechariah 12:10. image. 2022. <https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/studies-verses/files/landing_zechariah.png>
[6] Contemporary English Verson; Good News Translation; God’s Word translation; Zechariah 12:10. BibleHub.com. 2020. <https://biblehub.com/zechariah/12-10.htm> The Message; Bible in Basic English. Zechariah 12:10. NetBible.org. 2020. <http://classic.net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Zec&chapter=12&verse=10>
[7] Sapir, Avinoam. LSI Laboratory for Scientific Interrogation, Inc. n.d. <http://www.lsiscan.com/index.htm> “SCAN – Scientific Content Analysis (Statement Analysis).” Advanced Polygraph. 2011. <http://www.advancedpolygraph.com.au/scan.htm> “Introduction to Text Analysis: About Text Analysis.” Duke University | Libraries. 2017. <https://guides.library.duke.edu/text_analysis> “What Is the Definition of Textual Analysis?” Reference.com. 2018. <https://www.reference.com/education/definition-textual-analysis-a95087916fcb24cb> Pfarrer, Mike “What is content analysis?” University of Georgia | Terry College of Business. 2012. <http://www.terry.uga.edu/management/contentanalysis>
[8] “daqar.” NetBible.org. Hebrew text. <http://classic.net.bible.org/search.php?search=hebrew_strict_index:01856>
[9] John 19. NetBible.org. Greek text. Strong. “nusso <3572>” CR Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23.
[10] John 20.

Jeconiah’s Curse, Amazing Promise & Impossible Challenge

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Jeconiah’s Curse, Amazing Promise & Impossible Challenge

Jeconiah’s so-called curse is cited by agnostics and atheists as evidence against the legitimacy of Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. Adversaries can sometimes make for strange bedfellows.

Judaism has no choice but to side with Christianity on this allegation. Ironically, evidence is based on Biblical prophecies foretelling the Messiah must be born in the royal House of David.

Critics and skeptics claim, on the other hand, these prophecies cannot be fulfilled because of Jeconiah’s curse.^[1] If the charge is true, any prophecy foretelling the Messiah would come from the House of David – Jesus or anyone else whom Judaism teaches is the Messiah – can never be.

Setting the scene, Jehoiakim, king of Judah, drew the wrath of God for his evil ways as well as his son, Jeconiah (aka Coniah or Jehoiachin), for following in his footsteps.^[2] God sent the prophet Jeremiah with a message of judgment to the kingdom – death for Jehoaikim (aka Josiah), but for Jeconiah…

^{Jer. 22:30} This is what the LORD says: “Record this man as if childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule any more in Judah.”_(NIV)

Jeconiah was condemned by God becoming the last of the sitting kings in the royal succession of David. Serving as King for all of 3 months, he was taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon imprisoned for 37 years.^[3]

During his Babylonian captivity, Jeconiah fathered children, the first son being Salathiel.^[4] According to the Talmud, Salathiel means to be conceived in prison while standing up.^[5] His sons grew up without their father…as if Jeconiah had no sons.^[6]

Just five verses after God’s judgement of Jeconiah, Jeremiah issued another prophecy making clear David’s royal lineage had not ended. God explicitly promised another King would arise from the Branch of David:

^{Jer 23:5} “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.”_(NASB)

After Jerusalem had been crushed by Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah, Jeconiah’s brother, as his puppet king of Israel. Zedekiah had learned nothing from judgments of his father and brother, spending the next decade ignoring and offending both God and Nebuchadnezzar.^[7]

Zedekiah rescued the prophet Jeremiah from an empty cistern where he was thrown by his enemies. Still, the King confined Jeremiah in an outdoor prison courtyard for prophesying doom at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.^[8]

Nevertheless, that did not stop Jeremiah from issuing another Branch prophecy demonstrating that God’s judgement of Jeconiah had a limited shelf life. During his outdoor imprisonment, Jeremiah prophesied again that Israel would be restored and David would never fail to have a man sitting on his throne:

^{Jer. 33:17} “For this is what the LORD says: ‘David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, …”_(NIV)

Jewish Rabbis and the Talmud teach that God pardoned Jeconiah and Biblical history provides corroborating evidence.^[9] Pointing to Evil-Merodach, Nebuchadnezzar’s successor, Jeconiah was released from prison and dined daily with the King of Babylon with a seat of honor.^[10]

Emphasizing the trustworthiness of His incredible promise to Israel and Judah, God issued an impossible challenge based on the steadfastness of astronomy:

^{Jer. 33:20-21}“”Thus says the LORD, ‘If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne…”_(NASB)

Scrolling forward two generations, Zerubbabel, “The son of Salathiel, of the posterity of David,” is called out by Jewish historian Josephus. A Hebrew leader of great prominence, Zerubbabel served as a body guard for Persian King Cyrus.^[11]

Cyrus was solicited by Zerubbabel to allow the rebuilding of the Temple and return of its vessels from Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest. Astonishingly, the Temple’s gold vessels had survived both the Babylonian captivity and the Persian invasion.

Not only was his request granted by decree, Cyrus appointed Zerubbabel as the governor to lead the Hebrews out of captivity back to Jerusalem, rebuild the city, and join the High Priest in rebuilding the Temple.^[12] Through the prophet Haggai, God blessed Zerubbabel for his leadership.^[13]

Zerubbabel of the royal lineage of David, grandson of King Jeconiah, is mentioned 11 times in four books of the Old Testament, one of the few Hebrew figures to receive such recognition. He is also named in both genealogies of the Gospels Matthew and Luke.^[14]

King Hezekiah signet ring impression 13th century BC.

Interestingly, Jeconiah’s judgement and the blessing of Zerubbabel each use a signet ring metaphor. A ruler typically wore a unique gold signet ring bearing his name that was used to seal documents such as decrees – the seal was considered more authentic than a signature.^[15]

^{Jer. 22:24} “”As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off.”_(NIV)

^{Hag. 2:23} “‘On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”_(NIV)

Was the royal lineage David ended by “Jeconiah’s curse” disqualifying Jesus as the “Righteous Branch.”

Updated May 25, 2025.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:
[1] Willruth, Bart. “The Gospel of Matthew Debunks the Messiahship of Jesus.” Debunking Christianity. 2009. <http://debunkingchristianity.blogspot.com/2009/06/gospel-of-matthew-debunks-messiahship.html> Lippard, Jim. “The Fabulous Prophecies Of The Messiah.” Atheist Community of Austin. 1993. <https://atheist-community.org/resources/online-articles/145-the-fabulous-prophecies-of-the-messiah> Irenaeus of Lyons. Against Heresies. Book III, Chapters XXI, XXII. Ante-Nicene Fathers. Volume I. Christian Classics Ethereal Library. 2005. <http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.ix.iv.html>
[2] Jeremiah 22. Net.bible.org. Jeremiah 22:24 footnote #42. CR Jeremiah 24, 27-29, 52; 1 Chronicles 3; 2 Chronicles 36; Esther 2; 2 Kings 24, 25; Ezekiel 1.
[3] 2 Kings 24.
[4] I Chronicles 3.
[5] Soncino Babylonian Talmud. Ed. Isidore Epstein. 1935-1948. Sanhedrin 37b-38a. <https://israelect.com/Come-and-Hear/talmud/index.html>
[6] Jeremiah 52.
[7] Jeremiah 52; Chronicles 36.
[8] II Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 27, 29, 37. Bakon, Shimon. “Zedekiah: The Last King of Judah”, Jewish Bible Quarterly. Vol. 36, No. 2, 2008. <http://jbq.jewishbible.org/assets/Uploads/362/362_z
[9] Isaiah 9:, 11. Jehoiachin.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2017. <http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/8543-jeconiah > “The Problem of the Curse on Jeconiah in Relation to the Genealogy of Jesus.” Jews for Jesus. 2018. <https://jewsforjesus.org/answers/the-problem-of-the-curse-on-jeconiah-in-relation-to-the-genealogy-of-jesus-issues-prophecy >edekiah.pdf>
[10] Jeremiah 52; 2 Kings 25. Rashi, Shlomo Yitzchaki. The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary. Yirmiyahu – Jeremiah 22:24 commentary. <https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16019#showrashi=true>
[11] Haggai 1-2. Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Book XI, Chapters I, III-IV. The Complete Works of Josephus. 1850. <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false> “Zerubbabel.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. “Zerubbabel.” Jewish Virtual Library. 2014. “Zerubbabel.” International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Online. 2018. <http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/Z/zerubbabel.html
[12] Ezra 1, 6.
[13] Haggai 2.
[14] I Chronicles 3; Nehemiah 12; Ezra 3, 5; Haggai. 1, 2; Matthew 1; Luke 3. “Zerubbabel.” Jewish Encyclopedia. “Zerubbabel.” Jewish Virtual Library. Josephus. Antiquities. Book XI, Chapter III (spelled Zorobabel).
[15] “A brief history of signet rings.” The History Press. 2018. < https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/a-brief-history-of-signet-rings > Davis, Ashley. “The History Behind … Signet Rings.” National Jeweler. 2018. < https://www.nationaljeweler.com/fashion/antique-estate-jewelry/4637-the-history-behind-signet-rings-2 > Seal of Hezekiah. UPI.com. image. 13th century BC. <https://cdnph.upi.com/sv/ph/og/i/7091449076877/2015/1/14490824662433/v1.5/Rare-mark-of-the-seal-of-biblical-era-Judean-king-found.jpg>